DoNER Minister urges practical approach to strengthen NE sports
Agartala Oct 15: Union Minister for Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday stressed the need for a focused and practical approach to strengthen the sports ecosystem in the Northeast, calling for region-specific strategies to unlock its full potential.
Scindia noted that true sporting success depends not merely on infrastructure but on “soft skills” such as quality coaching, talent scouting, and athlete development. He underscored the importance of dedicated coaches, systematic grassroots talent identification, and the creation of local leagues and academies to build a sustainable sports culture in the region.
The Union Minister, along with Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, co-chaired the 2nd High-Level Task Force Meeting on the Promotion of Sports in the Northeastern Region, which was held through video conferencing.
The meeting deliberated on a wide range of issues aimed at strengthening the region’s sports ecosystem — including infrastructure development, coaching, talent identification, competition exposure, sports science, funding mechanisms, data governance, and performance monitoring. Both public and private sector collaboration was emphasized as a key driver of long-term growth.
Governor Bhalla endorsed Scindia’s vision, asserting that these initiatives would significantly enhance the sports landscape of the Northeast by focusing on athlete training, skill development, and local league promotion — all of which would create greater opportunities for young players.
He also urged each state to leverage its unique sporting strengths and commended the Central government for its consistent efforts to develop sports infrastructure and nurture talent across the region.
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse, who joined the meeting virtually, reaffirmed the Ministry’s strong commitment to advancing sports in the Northeast. She emphasized that the government is focused on nurturing grassroots talent and ensuring young athletes have access to world-class infrastructure, professional training, and exposure to national and international competitions.
The meeting was also attended virtually by Mizoram’s Sports Minister, Chief Secretaries of Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram, as well as Commissioners and senior officials from the North Eastern Council (NEC), Ministry of DoNER, and various state sports departments.
Meanwhile, the DoNER Ministry has constituted multiple High-Level Task Forces to identify key interventions and formulate actionable short-, medium-, and long-term strategies for the integrated development of the North East Economic Corridor and other vital sectors such as tourism, sports, and education.
These Task Forces were established following the 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) held in November last year in Agartala, Tripura. The session was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who serves as the Chairman of the NEC. (With inputs from PIB/IANS)
